Great information coming to you from Julia Kendall
Fabric Softeners Equal
Health Risks from Dryer exhaust and treated fabrics.
Chemicals found in fabric softeners by U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Identification of Polar Volatile Organic Compounds in
Consumer Products and Common Microenvironments, 1991
http://wwws.us.ohio-state.edu/~steen/ei/doc/EPA_A312.html
and
Polar Organic Compounds in Fragrances of Consumer Products, 1992
Reference: Lance Wallace, EPA; Phone 703.648.4287
http://wwws.us.ohio-state.edu/~steen/ei/doc/fragrance_rti4948.html
Symptoms of exposure are taken from industry-generated Material Safety Data
Sheets (MSDS)
Compiled by Julia Kendall (1935 - 1997); distributed by EHN
Alpha-TERPINEOL -- Causes CNS disorders ...
"highly irritating to mucous membranes"... "Aspiration
into the lungs can produce pneumonitis or even fatal edema." Can
also cause "excitement, ataxia (loss of muscular coordination),
hypothermia, CNS and respiratory depression, and headache."
"Prevent repeated or prolonged skin contact."
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BENZYL ACETATE -- Carcinogenic (linked to
pancreatic cancer). "From vapors: irritating to eyes and
respiratory passages, exciting cough." "In mice: hyperaemia of
the lungs." "Can be absorbed through the skin causing systemic
effects." "Do not flush to sewer."
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BENZYL ALCOHOL -- Causes CNS disorders.
"...irritating to the upper respiratory tract" ...
"headache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, drop in blood pressure, CNS
depression, and death in severe cases due to respiratory failure."
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CAMPHOR -- Causes CNS disorders. On EPA's Hazardous
Waste list. Symptoms: "local irritant and CNS stimulant"
..."readily absorbed through body tissues" ..."irritation
of eyes, nose and throat" ..."dizziness, confusion, nausea,
twitching muscles and convulsions." "Avoid inhalation of
vapors."
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CHLOROFORM -- Neurotoxic. Anesthetic. Carcinogenic.
On EPA's Hazardous Waste list. "Avoid contact with eyes, skin,
clothing. Do not breathe vapors ... Inhalation of vapors may cause
headache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, drowsiness, irritation of
respiratory tract and loss of consciousness." "Inhalation can
be fatal." "Chronic effects of overexposure may include kidney
and/or liver damage." "Medical conditions generally aggravated
by exposure: kidney disorders, liver disorders, heart disorders, skin
disorders." "Conditions to avoid: HEAT..." Listed on
California's Propostion 65.
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ETHYL ACETATE -- Narcotic. On EPA's Hazardous Waste
list. "...irritating to the eyes and respiratory tract"
..."may cause headache and narcosis (stupor)" ..."may
cause anemia with leukocytosis and damage to liver and kidneys"
"Wash thoroughly after handling."
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LIMONENE -- Carcinogenic. "Prevent its contact
with skin or eyes because it is an irritant and sensitizer."
"Always wash thoroughly after using this material and before
eating, drinking, ...applying cosmetics. Do not inhale limonene
vapor."
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LINALOOL -- Narcotic. Causes CNS disorders.
..."respiratory disturbances" ... "Attracts bees."
"In animal tests: ataxic gait, reduced spontaneous motor activity
and depression ... depressed heart activity ... development of
respiratory disturbances leading to death."
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PENTANE -- "Danger -- Harmful if inhaled;
extremely flammable. Keep away from heat ä Avoid breathing vapor."
"Inhalation of vapors may cause headache, nausea, vomiting,
dizziness, drowsiness, irritation of respiratory tract and loss of
consciousness. Repeated inhalation of vapors may cause central nervous
system depression. Contact can cause eye irritation. Prolonged exposure
may cause dermatitis (skin rash)."
Do Fabric Softeners Make You Sick?
Exposure can result from the outgassing of vented dryers or from
treated fabrics (e.g., clothes, sheets, towels), which are in close
proximity to you. Questions to ponder:
- Have you been enjoying a walk in the neighborhood and found you
have suddenly fallen without realizing why?
- Do you get a numb feeling in the side of your face -- and the
doctors can't find the reason?
- Do you get a sudden onset of dizziness or a headache?
Fabric softeners, like other fragrant products, contain petrochemicals,
used in untested combination. These chemicals can adversely affect the
central nervous system (CNS) -- your brain and spine.
CNS exposure symptoms include: aphasia, blurred vision, disor-ientation,
dizziness, headaches, hunger, memory loss, numbness in face, pain in
neck and spine. CNS disorders include: Alzheimer's Disease, Attention
Deficit Disorder, Dementia, Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, Multiple
Sclerosis, Parkinson's Disease, Seizures, Strokes, Sudden Infant Death
Syndrome (SIDS).
If you use fabric softeners (liquid or sheets), STOP!
- Save the container as evidence -- doctors can request analysis.
- If made ill by fabric softener used by another person, give
product name if known.
- Provide a description of your symptoms.
- Take this paper to your doctor to help document your symptoms.
Act Now
If you suffer symptoms from exposures to fabric softeners --
- Telephone 1-800-638-2772; press 1; press 999 -- to file an
official complaint with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Say you want to file a report on a hazardous product. Emphasize
central nervous system disorder symptoms. Allergic symptoms are
not given priority in Commission investigations. Demand a recall.
Please have everyone you know who reacts to fabric softeners call.
The tally will be useful in litigation and publicity.
- Telephone 1-301-504-0424 -- consumer product reports are available
(for a fee) under the Freedom of Information Act. Request any of the
following: 1) Emergency Room reports; 2) Death Certificate reports;
3) Consumer Complaints; 4) In-depth Investigations.
- Telephone 1-800-543-1745 -- Proctor and Gamble (Downy &
Bounce); 1-800-598-5005 -- Lever Bros. (Snuggle); or,
contact the manufacturer of the product you know makes you ill.
- Call the Air Quality Management and the Air Resources agencies in
your area. File a complaint. Request a list of their board members.
Ask for information regarding their policies for presenting issues
to their boards. Request the boards consider the issue of scented
fabric softeners in dryer exhausts as a factor in outdoor air
pollution -- fragrance products are made with petrochemicals used in
untested combinations.
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The Work of Julia Kendall
Other flyers by Julia Kendall:
Making Sense of
Scents
Twenty Most Common
Chemicals Found in Thirty-One Fragrance Products
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